Celebrating Día de Muertos in Baltimore

Saturday afternoon was filled with the colors and sounds of the Creative Alliance’s Día de Muertos parade, which marched down Eastern Avenue in Southeast Baltimore. Day of the Dead festivities, normally observed each year from Nov. 1 through Nov. 2, honor the loved ones who’ve passed away in a celebratory, joyous fashion - rather than one filled with mourning and sorrow. Día de Muertos originates from Mexico, though you can find folks who celebrate the holiday all over the world (particularly in places with larger Mexican populations). The Creative Alliance event Saturday featured live music, traditional art, food and dance performances.

The Artesanas, a Creative Alliance group of female artists from Latin American countries, welcomed the community with home-made hot chocolate and a giant altar, or ofrenda, honoring the deceased with pictures, candles, tamales, cempasúchil flowers and other offerings. Pan de muerto, calavera and flower-making workshops provided ways for Baltimore’s Mexican community to celebrate one of their biggest holidays of the year, and teach the broader Baltimore community about their traditions, art and culture.

Baltimore Banner freelancer Julia Reihs met with some of them to learn more about the holiday, and captured some of the most vibrant moments from the Creative Alliance celebration. Watch the video above, and scroll through the gallery below.

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1/18 · 11/5/22 – The Artesanas' altar, or ofrenda, welcomed guests to the Creative Alliance's Día de los Muertos celebration on Saturday. The ofrenda is a staple part of the Mexican holiday, honoring the deceased with pictures, candles, tamales, cempasúchil flowers, and other offerings. (Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner)

2/18 · 11/5/22 – Yesenia Mejia Herrera shows a picture of her grandfather in front of the Artesanas' altar at the Creative Alliance's Día de los Muertos celebration on Saturday. (Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner)

3/18 · 11/5/22 – A Día de los Muertos parade marches down Eastern Ave. on Saturday as part of the Creative Alliance's Día de los Muertos celebration. (Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner)

4/18 · 11/5/22 – Angelique Cortes performs with the group Juventud Latina as part of the Creative Alliance's Día de los Muertos parade on Saturday. The celebration also featured live music, traditional art and food, and dance performances. The Artesanas, a Creative Alliance group of female artists from Latin American countries, welcomed the community with home-made hot chocolate and a giant altar, or ofrenda, honoring the deceased with pictures, candles, tamales, cempasúchil flowers, and other offerings. Pan de muerto, calavera and flower-making workshops provided ways for Baltimore’s Mexican community to celebrate one of their biggest holidays of the year, and teach the broader Baltimore community about their traditions, art and culture. Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner. (Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner)

5/18 · 11/5/22 – The Artesanas' altar, or ofrenda, welcomed guests to the Creative Alliance's Día de los Muertos celebration on Saturday. The ofrenda is a staple part of the Mexican holiday, honoring the deceased with pictures, candles, tamales, cempasúchil flowers, and other offerings. The Artesanas answered event-goers' questions about the tradition of altar-making, and hosted pan de muerto, calavera and flower-making workshops to further educate the Baltimore community about the holiday. The Artesanas are a Creative Alliance group of female artists from Latin American countries who make it their mission to share their cultures through art and education. Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner (Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner)

6/18 · 11/5/22 – Marina Delgado, left, paints the face of Karen Juvencio, 10, as part of Creative Alliance's Día de Muertos Celebration on Saturday. (Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner)

7/18 · 11/5/22 – El Catrín and La Catrina dance among traditional Chinelos dancers outside the Creative Alliance as part of the organization's Día de los Muertos celebration on Saturday. The event featured a parade around Patterson Park, live music, traditional art and food, and dance performances. The Artesanas, a Creative Alliance group of female artists from Latin American countries, welcomed the community with home-made hot chocolate and a giant altar, or ofrenda, honoring the deceased with pictures, candles, tamales, cempasúchil flowers, and other offerings. Pan de muerto, calavera and flower-making workshops provided ways for Baltimore’s Mexican community to celebrate one of their biggest holidays of the year, and teach the broader Baltimore community about their traditions, art and culture. Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner. (Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner)

8/18 · 11/5/22 – A Día de los Muertos parade marches through Patterson Park on Saturday as part of the Creative Alliance's Día de los Muertos celebration. The event also featured live music, traditional art and food, and dance performances. The Artesanas, a Creative Alliance group of female artists from Latin American countries, welcomed the community with home-made hot chocolate and a giant altar, or ofrenda, honoring the deceased with pictures, candles, tamales, cempasúchil flowers, and other offerings. Pan de muerto, calavera and flower-making workshops provided ways for Baltimore’s Mexican community to celebrate one of their biggest holidays of the year, and teach the broader Baltimore community about their traditions, art and culture. Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner. (Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner)

9/18 · 11/5/22 – Genesis Paula Mariel, 7, dances in the Creative Alliance's Día de los Muertos parade as part of of the Jóvenes en Acción group on Saturday. The celebration also featured live music, traditional art and food, and dance performances. The Artesanas, a Creative Alliance group of female artists from Latin American countries, welcomed the community with home-made hot chocolate and a giant altar, or ofrenda, honoring the deceased with pictures, candles, tamales, cempasúchil flowers, and other offerings. Pan de muerto, calavera and flower-making workshops provided ways for Baltimore’s Mexican community to celebrate one of their biggest holidays of the year, and teach the broader Baltimore community about their traditions, art and culture. Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner. (Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner)

10/18 · 11/5/22 – A Día de los Muertos parade marches down Eastern Ave. on Saturday as part of the Creative Alliance's Día de los Muertos celebration. The event also featured live music, traditional art and food, and dance performances. The Artesanas, a Creative Alliance group of female artists from Latin American countries, welcomed the community with home-made hot chocolate and a giant altar, or ofrenda, honoring the deceased with pictures, candles, tamales, cempasúchil flowers, and other offerings. Pan de muerto, calavera and flower-making workshops provided ways for Baltimore’s Mexican community to celebrate one of their biggest holidays of the year, and teach the broader Baltimore community about their traditions, art and culture. Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner. (Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner)

11/18 · 11/5/22 – Alondra Flores, a teacher with the Juventud Latina program, dresses in traditional Día de los Muertos attire as part of Creative Alliance's Día de Muertos Celebration on Saturday. (Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner)

12/18 · 11/5/22 – Members of the Jóvenes en Acción group march with the Día de los Muertos parade down Eastern Ave. on Saturday as part of the Creative Alliance's Día de los Muertos celebration. The event also featured live music, traditional art and food, and dance performances. The Artesanas, a Creative Alliance group of female artists from Latin American countries, welcomed the community with home-made hot chocolate and a giant altar, or ofrenda, honoring the deceased with pictures, candles, tamales, cempasúchil flowers, and other offerings. Pan de muerto, calavera and flower-making workshops provided ways for Baltimore’s Mexican community to celebrate one of their biggest holidays of the year, and teach the broader Baltimore community about their traditions, art and culture. Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner. (Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner)

13/18 · 11/5/22 – Gabriela Calderón (left) and her daughter, Emma Ekinwande, 5 months, watch dance performances at the Creative Alliance's Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, celebration on Saturday. Calderón brought her daughter to the event because she wants her to grow up understanding her culture and celebrating its traditions. Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner. (Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner)

14/18 · 11/5/22 – The Juventud Latina group performs a dance in the Creative Alliance's Día de los Muertos parade on Saturday. The celebration also featured live music, traditional art and food, and dance performances. The Artesanas, a Creative Alliance group of female artists from Latin American countries, welcomed the community with home-made hot chocolate and a giant altar, or ofrenda, honoring the deceased with pictures, candles, tamales, cempasúchil flowers, and other offerings. Pan de muerto, calavera and flower-making workshops provided ways for Baltimore’s Mexican community to celebrate one of their biggest holidays of the year, and teach the broader Baltimore community about their traditions, art and culture. Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner. (Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner)

15/18 · 11/5/22 – The Juventud Latina group gets ready to perform a dance in the Creative Alliance's Día de los Muertos parade at Patterson Park on Saturday. The celebration also featured live music, traditional art and food, and dance performances. The Artesanas, a Creative Alliance group of female artists from Latin American countries, welcomed the community with home-made hot chocolate and a giant altar, or ofrenda, honoring the deceased with pictures, candles, tamales, cempasúchil flowers, and other offerings. Pan de muerto, calavera and flower-making workshops provided ways for Baltimore’s Mexican community to celebrate one of their biggest holidays of the year, and teach the broader Baltimore community about their traditions, art and culture. Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner. (Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner)

16/18 · 11/5/22 – Salma Ruiz marches in the Creative Alliance's Día de los Muertos parade as part of of the Jóvenes en Acción group on Saturday. The celebration also featured live music, traditional art and food, and dance performances. (Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner)

17/18 · 11/5/22 – Members of the Jóvenes en Acción group get ready to march with the Día de los Muertos parade in Patterson Park on Saturday as part of the Creative Alliance's Día de los Muertos celebration. The event also featured live music, traditional art and food, and dance performances. The Artesanas, a Creative Alliance group of female artists from Latin American countries, welcomed the community with home-made hot chocolate and a giant altar, or ofrenda, honoring the deceased with pictures, candles, tamales, cempasúchil flowers, and other offerings. Pan de muerto, calavera and flower-making workshops provided ways for Baltimore’s Mexican community to celebrate one of their biggest holidays of the year, and teach the broader Baltimore community about their traditions, art and culture. Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner. (Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner)

18/18 · 11/5/22 – Alondra Flores, a teacher with the Juventud Latina program, dresses in traditional Día de los Muertos attire as part of Creative Alliance's Día de Muertos Celebration on Saturday. (Julia Reihs for the Baltimore Banner)